Just as we have parts that exist in space, we have parts that exist over time. We are the sum of our temporal parts, even though not every one of those parts is essential for our identity. Conversely, none of our temporal parts is the whole of who we are. As four dimensional wholes, we are never simply the person who exists at a single point in time.

All the temporal parts of a person (or object) carry the same ontological weight

Think of heaven as the place where the ontological equality of temporal parts becomes absolutely real.

I have a feeling that the Last Judgment has to do in large part with judging the different temporal parts of a person against one another, and determining which can exist as part of a coherent whole.

Bruce CharltonApril 30, 2014

Adam – If I am honest with myself, I can’t make sense of this. It seems to violate the commonsense understanding of what time is.

I find that if I start messing around with my commonsense understanding of time as linear and sequential, then everything either falls apart into incoherence or else grinds to a halt in eternal crystalline changelessness – either way, the choices of this mortal life are devalued!

I think what binds us over times can be imagined on the lines of some essence (some everlasting, tiny but vital inner flame, unique to us) which continues through all temporal changes.

Adam G.May 1, 2014

Bruce C.,
this kind of perfect communion with oneself through the past is compatible with linear, sequential time as long as one doesn’t remain free to act in the past.

It’s interesting to note that atemporal metaphysics is coherent, but difficult to conceive in one’s mind. On the other hand, there are plenty of time travel or parallel-universe stories (‘Doctor Who’, ‘Groundhog Day’, etc.) which are perfectly clear and easy to understand, but screamingly incoherent in their underlying metaphysics.

It’s an odd dichotomy.

BookslingerMay 1, 2014

Time is a local phenomenon. I don’t think we can understand how time relates to the higher dimensions until we stand within/upon those higher dimensions.

When Moroni, resurrected but not exalted, stepped into Joseph’s bedroom through some kind of portal, it indicated he could access a higher physical dimension. Moses, in a translated state, in his vision saw all particles of the earth at once, as if viewed from a higher physical dimension.

But Heavenly Father, and perhaps the Savior, are the only ones we know of who can access higher dimensions of _time_. I therefore assume that exaltation is needed for that type of access, or access to that type of dimension. One of Heavenly Father’s names is “The Eternal”, which perhaps indicates He is the only one in our sphere/family who is.

I’ve come to believe that in many scriptures, especially the D&C, “eternal” or “Eternal”, has more meaning than just an infinity of time. It has a meaning relating to a time dimension that is higher than our linear time, much like how angels or translated beings can access a physical dimension higher than our 3D space.

Like us looking at a segment of string, and seeing it all in one glance, so Heavenly Father looks at our timeline from wherever it is he stands.

It is said that at our fianl judgement, or at our preliminary judgement immediately after passing, that we will see a “movie” of our life.